Starter switch problem, maybe??

[gordonv]

I've been riding my interstate to work daily, and since I park on a slight incline, I've been leaving the bike in gear.

I usually put the bike in neutral and then start it up. No issues.

But sometimes I leave it in gear, just put the kick stand up, pull in the clutch, then press the start button. But no joy. The bike doesn't turn over, nothing. Try a few more times, then it starts right up, and I drive away.

I suspect that the kick stand is the problem, after all, I have an IS, and this only happens after putting the stand up and in gear.

I'm not likely to do much with this right now. Will wait for winter storage after I get the bike up on the center stand, then will replace the kick stand switch (I have a spare).

Any other suggestions?

[Steel cowboy]

My interstate will show the green neutral light, but actually it's not. Sometimes it's in neutral but the green light is not on. So try shifting down or up if it doesn't start to get an idea if it's the neutral switch or kick stand switch.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Sounds like your clutch switch to me.

[John Schmidt]

SNIP: "Any other suggestions?"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yes, quit starting the bike in gear. If for some reason you have a switch or hydraulic failure(especially the latter), you're in for a big surprise....including possible serious injury. The clutch switch is meant for that time you accidentally kill the bike at a light or on an incline....per the techs at the Honda plant. They put that practice in the same category as Gold Wing owners with reverse on the bike improperly using it as a parking brake. After a few short years, suddenly the bike won't start due to electrical damage. The reverse is meant to be used for one thing and one thing only.....to back up. Their advice...and mine, put the Wing in 1st gear for parking on an incline....or even if on level ground.

Personally, I've never parked any bike in neutral, it's always in gear....even in my garage with a level floor.  If I'm on an incline it's not a problem, put it in neutral and use the hand brake. Save the clutch switch for when it's needed. Again FWIW, I've had a clutch cable attachment break on an old bike, what if I had tried starting it in gear and used the clutch switch as a bypass to start in gear.

[Ken Tarver]

Use an ohm meter and test the switches 

Ken

[Valkpilot]

Sounds like your clutch switch to me.

+1

I'd guess clutch lever wear, either pivot bushing or wear on the lever face that compresses the switch.

[Hook#3287]

Yes, quit starting the bike in gear. If for some reason you have a switch or hydraulic failure(especially the latter), you're in for a big surprise....including possible serious injury. The clutch switch is meant for that time you accidentally kill the bike at a light or on an incline....per the techs at the Honda plant.

Agreed.

There was a time that my bike wouldn't start while in gear with the clutch pulled in, but because I seldom used it, only in the situations John pointed out, I'd forget to check it when I got home.

Went for like 6 months like that, till one day I remembered while in the garage and checked it out.

One of the wires had worked loose on the clutch switch, took 2 second to fix.

[Chrisj CMA]

I've been riding my interstate to work daily, and since I park on a slight incline, I've been leaving the bike in gear.

I usually put the bike in neutral and then start it up. No issues.

But sometimes I leave it in gear, just put the kick stand up, pull in the clutch, then press the start button. But no joy. The bike doesn't turn over, nothing. Try a few more times, then it starts right up, and I drive away.

I suspect that the kick stand is the problem, after all, I have an IS, and this only happens after putting the stand up and in gear.

I'm not likely to do much with this right now. Will wait for winter storage after I get the bike up on the center stand, then will replace the kick stand switch (I have a spare).

Any other suggestions?

I think if you repeatedly functioned the kick stand and then it started I would suspect the stand switch.  Since you functioned the starter switch several times and then it started, I suspect the starter switch.

[Willow]

Clutch switch.  You need it to work in case it dies at a stop in traffic.

[t-man403]

I have aftermarket grips that are a little fat. Because of that I have the same problem at times. Then I remember I have to squeeze a little tighter and away she goes.

[gordonv]

As I said, this only happens when in gear after the kick stand goes up. 3-4 sec later, no issue.

No clutch problem, no tighter squeeze, no on-off the clutch.

If I kick the stand up. Wait a few seconds, then try to start in gear, with the clutch pulled the whole time, no issue, immediate start.

Kick stand up, start the bike while in neutral, kick it into gear, and never a sputter.

It's like the stand switch is slow in making contact. Dirty contacts. Like I said, I have a spare (or 2), so will remove when I get a chance, and will then know.

[Carl]

My start switch can be kind of finicky.  If I push it in too far or with too much force it will not start.  Sort of acts like a dead battery.  If I am fairly easy with the press, it fires right up.

[The emperor has no clothes]

My start switch can be kind of finicky.  If I push it in too far or with too much force it will not start.  Sort of acts like a dead battery.  If I am fairly easy with the press, it fires right up.

Mine would start doing that when it needed cleaning. Good for another 20k after a cleaning.

[Carl]

That's the weird thing Meathead, I just cleaned it.  Even weirder was that I was installing the smart switch, in order to avoid any starter switch issues like I had with my other bike.  Got the switch installed, and then it wouldn't start.  Traced the power back from the light through to the starter switch.  Took the switch apart.  It wasn't shiny, but it also wasn't nearly as corroded as I have seen other functioning switches.  Put back together, and then I started noticing this problem.  Like it pushes past the contacts.  Took it back apart but I cannot see any obvious problems.  Everything is snapped in where it is supposed to be.  Maybe I had this issue before and just didn't notice.  Everything still works, so I'm going to leave well enough alone and ride-on.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Maybe it's just wore down & out. Spring action is good ? Might not be a bad idea to carry something to jump the Starter relay if you need to.